Work Text:
What A Plot Twist You Were
Wei Wuxian was engaged to the second young master Lan of the Lan Clan. As a promising head disciple of the Jiang Clan and as the adopted son of the Jiang Sect Leader, he had quite a bright future ahead of him.
When it was made known that Lan Wangji, second Jade of Lan and said to be one of the most powerful young cultivators of their generation, preferred a partner of the same gender, Yu Ziyuan wasted no time in sending a betrothal request.
Wei Wuxian was usually ignored as just another unacknowledged disciple and occasional annoyance, but with the Second Jade’s preference, Yu Ziyuan suddenly saw him as an asset to the Jiang Clan.
Jiang Fengmian had been torn between reluctance (since she was basically betrothing his good friends’ son to a stranger with no say in his part) and relief that his wife was treating Wei Wuxian better.
Wei Wuxian honestly preferred girls to guys. He wanted a wife, not a husband, but Wei Wuxian also recognized that in their world, political marriages were more common than ones borne from love. Wei Wuxian’s parents had been the exception, and maybe he would have been the exception too, if they had not died.
Right now, Wei Wuxian was just the grateful orphan adopted by the Jiang Clan. He would give his life for his family and sect. So, giving up his dream of a marriage of love for an advantageous marriage for his sect? There really wasn’t much of a choice.
Wei Wuxian first met Lan Wangji one hot summer day when they were thirteen. The Lan Sect came for a visit, so that the two betrotheds could meet each other. Yu Ziyuan was smug that out of hundreds of proposals, the Lan Clan chose to accept YunmengJiang’s offer.
Yu Ziyuan cast Wei Wuxian a glare and warned him to be on his best behavior.
Inwardly, Wei Wuxian was not that much interested in meeting a male betrothed, but he was excited to get a new friend. At the very least, he would treat Lan Wangji better than Jin Zixuan ever treated his shijie.
The Lans were like elegant ghosts when they disembarked from their boat. Despite coming from the cold mountains and the heat of the sun beating down on them relentlessly, the Lan disciples maintained their calm demeanors and parted for Lan Qiren and his nephews.
Lan Qiren’s face was stern while Lan Xichen, future sect leader of the Lans carried with him a gentle aura and a kind smile. The eldest nephew was unfairly handsome, and Wei Wuxian could sense the admiring whispers from behind him.
Behind the two, shorter than Lan Xichen but about the same height as Wei Wuxian, was a veiled figure. Wei Wuxian wondered if this was some weird Lan custom where they kept the betrothed's face hidden to scare off bad luck or whatever.
(Later, he overheard a conversation between Lan Xichen and another disciple; because of the intense summer heat, Lan Wangji had chosen to wear a veil to ward off the heat and bugs. What Wei Wuxian didn’t know was that Lan Wangji also did this because he was slightly nervous about their first meeting. His betrothed spent most of his life in seclusion and was not used to other people at all.)
The Jiang Sect, as the hosts, greeted their guests first with a salute. Wei Wuxian watched as Lan Wangji removed his veil to pay his own respects.
Wei Wuxian thought he stopped breathing for a moment (and he thought he heard some gasps behind him too) when Lan Wangji looked up, golden eyes almost glowing under the sun, lashes long and delicate over his pale, jade-like features.
He looked like a doll.
Well, Wei Wuxian’s future fiancé definitely did not lose to girls in looks. He doesn’t know anyone more beautiful than Lan Wangji!
Wei Wuxian may have been stunned speechless at their first meeting, but he soon came to learn that aside from a pretty face, Lan Wangji did not have much going for him.
Lan Wangji was rigid, respectful, the perfect disciple, and it was almost impossible to crack his jade-like exterior, not that Wei Wuxian tried too hard. He didn't dare scare away the only thing that earned him Yu Ziyuan's kindness.
Still, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but tease the other, just to get a reaction.
A flower tucked behind a pink ear while Lan Wangji scowled at him; taunting his rigid intended with compliments about how he was the prettiest boy he had ever seen; making sure to offer his arm during their walks; or opening the doors for him even when Lan Wangji could manage it himself.
It was always fun to see the slightly annoyed look on Lan Wangji’s face and the occasional scowls, but Wei Wuxian made sure to never push too much, lest he risk the betrothal being broken.
It was an interesting summer for sure; despite Lan Wangji’s rigidity, Wei Wuxian had fun. The Lan Sect had to leave eventually, and it would be a few years before Wei Wuxian would see Lan Wangji again.
It was only during the Cloud Recesses Lectures that everything started to change in a direction Wei Wuxian never expected.
Wei Wuxian had not seen his betrothed in years, and he was stunned. He did not think Lan Wangji could grow even more beautiful than he already was! What sort of water were these mountain hermits drinking?
“Wei-xiong, if you don’t close your mouth, a fly might get in,” Nie Huaisang joked, and at Jiang Wanyin’s snort, Wei Wuxian abruptly closed his mouth and tried to laugh it off.
“Ah, come on, I mean, it’s a natural reaction when my betrothed looks like a deity descended from heaven!” Wei Wuxian winked smugly.
Jiang Wanying snorted, “I thought you preferred girls.”
Wei Wuxian felt a flash of indignation. “It doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate his beauty!”
“He’s coming closer,” Nie Huaisang whispered, interrupting what was sure to be another brotherly ribbing.
“Yung master Jiang, young master Nie,” Lan Wangji saluted the two before turning to his betrothed with the same placid expression. “Wei Wuxian.”
The two young masters returned the greetings while Wei Wuxian pouted.
“Ah, come now, Lan Zhan, didn’t I say to call me Wei Ying, the last time we met? Please give me some face!” Wei Wuxian pouted in exaggeration.
Lan Wangji merely inclined his head before referring them to a disciple who was there to show them the way to their quarters.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but let his gaze linger towards Lan Wangji, who had passed by Nie Huaisang. The younger Nie seemed nervous, but he whispered something to Lan Wangji, who tilted his head in acknowledgement before leaving.
Wei Wuxian was curious about the exchange, but he soon forgot about it when the Lan disciple started telling them about some basic dorm rules.
Wei Wuxian had written to Lan Wangji once a month since their first meeting. He really did not look forward to their exchange much because of how boring Lan Wangji’s letters were, but Wei Wuxian persevered. Regardless of how Lan Wangji was as a person, he was, first and foremost, a gentleman and treated his betrothed with all the respect due to him.
He was definitely way better than Jin Zixuan, who was currently ignoring Wei Wuxian’s Shijie along with his snickering posse.
Wei Wuxian was about to give him a piece of his mind when Lan Wangji passed by and somehow managed to find a dozen rules Jin Zixuan and his posse violated in the span of his arrival and now.
“…respect propriety and etiquette in all interactions. Do not act frivolously or disrespectfully. Conduct oneself with courtesy and restraint. Be honest and responsible for one's actions.” Lan Wangji paused, and his expression was serious as he added, “Treat one's betrothed with the utmost respect.”
Lan Wangji shot Wei Wuxian a look at the last part before he said, “As Wei Ying treats me.”
Suddenly all attention was on Wei Wuxian, who somehow felt both stunned and flustered. Jin Zixuan’s face was a funny puce color, and Shijie looked between them, a smile hidden behind her sleeves.
“Report to the Library Pavilion to copy out the etiquette on proper behavior; a Lan disciple will supervise.” Lan Wangji left as quickly as he arrived.
Wei Wuxian stood there, hearing the whispers around him.
“As expected of young master Wei! He must treat young master Lan so well if he was given such a public acknowledgement!”
“For an adopted son of the Jiang to be more respectable than the legitimate son of the Jins, not even all the money in the world can buy manners and class!”
“A-Xian, let’s go,” Jiang Yanli spoke to her brother in amusement, noting his slowly reddening cheeks.
“Ah, yes, Shijie,” He escorted his sister away, very aware of the praise for his looks, manners, and behavior.
Jin Zixuan stomped off, humiliated and confused by the whole interaction.
Jiang Yanli had not even glanced at him once.
Wei Wuxian does not know why he was nervous. He was standing outside of the Library Pavilion, a place he knew his betrothed constantly spent time in, reading who-knows-what or disciplining some unruly student (that may have been Wei Wuxian once or twice, until Jiang Wanyin reminded him of the importance of the betrothal, so he had to be much sneakier in breaking the rules).
In his hands was a handful of flowers he had nervously picked up to- to what? To say thank you for defending Jiang Yanli when he couldn’t? To say thank you for saying Wei Wuxian treated him well when everything Wei Wuxian did was nothing more than basic courtesy?
“Wei Ying?” Wei Wuxian jumped at the call of his name and turned to his devastatingly beautiful fiancé, looking at the flowers in his hands curiously. The tips of his ears were pink, and Wei Wuxian felt his chest squeeze with some unknown feeling.
Wei Wuxian pasted on a wide smile and presented the flowers with a flourish to the young man. “For you!”
Lan Wangji stared at it like he didn’t know what to do with them, which was strange since this wasn’t the first time Wei Wuxian had given him flowers (see: the incident when they first met, and he tucked a flower behind Lan Wangji’s ear).
“…Mn. Thank you.” Lan Wangji took it carefully, treating the flowers like they were delicate glass. Maybe he was expecting a prank or a joke to come with it.
“Ah, uh,” Wei Wuxian floundered, scratching his cheek. “Thank you for standing up for my Shijie.”
Lan Wangji seemed to relax at his words, like it was a confirmation of the gift. “It was the right thing to do.”
Wei Wuxian shook his head, not wanting the other to downplay what he did. “You did more than anyone! I doubt the peacock will be causing any more trouble. I heard he got a letter from Madame Jin reaming him for being a ‘shameful son with no courtesy or manners’.” He quoted happily, Nie Huaisang managed to get the juicy details from a Jin friend.
Lan Wangji observed Wei Wuxian’s self-satisfied smile and asked, “And your sister? How is she?”
Wei Wuxian got the sense that Lan Wangji was asking because he worried he might have caused more trouble to his sister’s reputation, which was far from the truth.
“She has actually made a lot of friends since then, and public opinion has truly shifted on her side!” Wei Wuxian said with relief. “People have started treating her with more respect. I truly owe you a lot, Lan Zhan.”
“No need.”
“Oh, there is a lot of need. You’re the best! So you deserve the best!” Wei Wuxian nodded at his own words, but then he turned shier at his next words as he did a quick bow. “Second master Lan also treats this Wei Wuxian well. It is more than I deserve.”
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji did not seem to know what to say, and Wei Wuxian straightened to smile at him.
Truly, Wei Wuxian was luckier than most. He had the most beautiful young man for a fiancé, someone who was as smart and as strong as he was. He was treated with courtesy and respect. Even though Wei Wuxian’s preferences were women, he still lucked out with his future husband.
Lan Wangji flushed at his attention but seemed to remember something, and he carefully held the flowers before he reached into his pouch to take out a small package.
“Wei Ying, I forgot to give this to you earlier,” Lan Wangji said.
He had been looking to give it to Wei Wuxian earlier, but then he saw the whole trouble with Jin Zixuan and forgot about it. He had left immediately after assigning punishment, embarrassed by his own bold move to compliment Wei Wuxian with so many people looking and listening.
“Oh?” Wei Wuxian excitedly reached for the package. Lan Wangji rarely gave gifts. He sent some tea leaves when they were exchanging their monthly letters, but that was it. “Lan Zhan, you truly spoil me! What amazing tea could this-”
Wei Wuxian paused, staring at the unwrapped package in his hand. Lan Wangji shifted where he stood, worried he had overstepped.
In Wei Wuxian’s hand were bottles of sesame oil infused with Sichuan peppercorns, ginger and scallion-infused oil, dried red peppers in powder form in a bottle, and even some spicy condiments Wei Wuxian had never tried before.
“Lan Zhan, this is…”
“Wei Ying, you have been eating less. The food does not suit your palate,” Lan Wangji said simply. “This will help.”
Wei Wuxian felt an overwhelming warmth in his chest, and it took everything in him not to just throw himself at Lan Wangji for a hug.
“Thank you,” Wei Wuxian said, because he couldn’t think of what else to say that would encompass the sweet, burning feeling in him that he couldn’t name. He smiled widely at Lan Wangji, whose gaze seemed to soften in response.
He was truly lucky.
Suddenly, Wei Wuxian started noticing Lan Wangji everywhere.
During class, Lan Wangji was seated in front, and if before Wei Wuxian would just zone out and doodle his time away, now, his gaze was stuck on the flawlessly white robes and the dark, glossy hair of his betrothed. He even almost missed the annoyed question Lan Qiren threw his way.
During lunch, his gaze would be drawn to how Lan Wangji carefully picked up his braised spring bamboo shoots before he ate it in careful bites. Somehow, in Wei Wuxian’s eyes, he made something so bland look so tasty!
Or that’s what Wei Wuxian told himself as he stole all the bamboo shoots from Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang’s bowls, despite their protests.
Wei Wuxian felt restless; he didn’t understand what was going on with him. He kept seeking out Lan Wangji, wanting to catch a glimpse of him once every shíchén.
It was because of his current, unexplained obsession with the other that he realized Lan Wangji seemed to be getting correspondence from someone who was not Wei Wuxian.
It was during a punishment of copying lines (Wei Wuxian got caught up staring at Lan Wangji again and could not answer Lan Qiren on time) when Lan Wangji excused himself as a fellow Lan disciple looked for him.
Curious, Wei Wuxian peered through the bookshelves to see someone hand Lan Wangji a letter. When the disciple bowed and left, Lan Wangji opened the letter, uncharacteristically impatient.
The tips of his ears were red, Wei Wuxian distantly noted as he folded the paper and hid it in his robes.
Lan Wangji came back and sat in front of Wei Wuxian like nothing had happened, telling him to continue copying lines.
The incident stayed in Wei Wuxian’s mind for a long time.
Lan Wangji got another letter after breakfast. There was also one during a self-study period, and a third one while they were out on their walk.
Wei Wuxian would have felt put out with the way Lan Wangji quickly hid the letter, but he felt a sort of smug satisfaction that he didn’t even open it while he was with Wei Wuxian.
“He won’t tell me what it is!” Wei Wuxian complained one day. He was sprawled across the bed, his legs stretched over the mattress while his head hung over the edge, dark hair trailing down to the floor.
Jiang Wanyin looked like he was so done with this conversation. “Why don’t you just ask him what it is? Knowing him, it’s probably a report on some misbehaving disciple.”
“No!” Wei Wuxian insisted. “If it was, he wouldn’t be blushing!”
“What?”
Wei Wuxian made an irritated noise. “He kept getting these letters, and he is always so, you know, impatient to open them, but he won’t open them if I’m there. But to be fair, he wouldn’t open them around anyone, and then his ears turned pink and-”
“And what? Do you think Hanguang-jun has a secret lover? Or is someone sending him confession letters?”
Both possibilities made Wei Wuxian feel an uncomfortable knot at the pit of his stomach.
“Lan Zhan would never do that! Especially when we’re betrothed! He is honorable, and he follows the rules more strictly than anyone,” Wei Wuxian defended fiercely, and Jiang Wanyin shot him a look.
“I know you thought about it too.”
“He wouldn’t.” Wei Wuxian said hotly.
Jiang Wanyin wanted to roll his eyes. “Fine, no need to be so defensive. I thought you wouldn’t care either way.”
“Of course I care! We’re going to get married!”
“I know, I was there when your engagement was finalized,” Jiang Wanyin said, sounding like he was tired of their entire conversation. “You’re not even married yet, and you sound like a jealous wife.”
“You-!”
Nie Huaisang entered the room just as Wei Wuxian jumped on Jiang Wanyin’s bed to tackle him into a headlock as the other yelled obscenities at him. Deciding he didn’t want to be in the middle of whatever this was, Nie Huasiang slipped back out again.
“Wei Ying, what is wrong?” Lan Wangji asked after ten minutes of their walk, and Wei Wuxian still hadn’t said a single thing.
Wei Wuxian turned and met the golden eyes regarding him with curiosity.
“Lan Zhan, we’re betrothed,” Wei Wuxian stopped and turned to look at the other, who also stopped to face him. “Are you- do you-” Wei Wuxian swallowed back his uncertainty and said, “You’ll tell me if you weren’t happy, right?”
Lan Wangji froze. “Wei Ying?”
“I mean, it’s just that-” Wei Wuxian sighed, frustrated by the way he was phrasing everything. “We were- I mean, I’m sure I wasn’t your first choice as a prospective husband. I know I annoyed you a lot when we were younger. I was noisy and messy and just chaotic all around. I-”
Wei Wuxian was startled when his mouth suddenly glued itself shut. He shot Lan Wangji a glare, familiar with the Lan silencing spell that the other had last used on him during that memorable summer in Lotus Pier.
“Wei Ying, what is this about?” Lan Wangji asked seriously, and then he looked uncertain. “Are you rethinking our engagement?”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened as he immediately shook his head. His insistent denial calmed Lan Wangji enough to release the spell.
“Then why?”
“I just-” Wei Wuxian huffed, trying to think of a less ridiculous thing to say than what he really wanted to know. He sighed in resignation. “Who are you writing to?”
Lan Wangji blinked, surprised. “What?”
“I mean, you get these letters, sometimes, during odd times of the day, and you never let anyone see. I thought- well, maybe you had someone you liked…”
With every word, Lan Wangji’s expression seemed to grow more and more frosty, and Wei Wuxian backtracked.
“Not me! I wasn’t thinking it! But Jiang Cheng said- I mean, told him you wouldn’t! But- but I had to make sure. Our engagement is more like a political thing, and I didn’t want- I don’t want to shackle yourself to me when you- I mean, if you liked someone else…” Wei Wuxian finished lamely.
Lan Wangji was quiet, but to Wei Wuxian’s panic, he was frowning, which on him was basically a devastated expression.
“Political…” Lan Wangji shook his head in something like anger and disappointment. He took out a folded piece of paper and shoved it in Wei Wuxian’s hands.
“Wha-”
“Nie Huaisang,” Lan Wangji practically growled, hands curling into fists. He left, not bothering to explain himself.
Wei Wuxian watched him go and looked down at the paper, which he was guessing was one of the letters Lan Wangji had been getting. He looked at it for a few minutes, wondering if this piece of paper had been worth breaking the amicable relationship they had.
Wei Wuxian opened it and stared at a sketch of him and Lan Wangji sitting together. Wei Wuxian spoke to him with a broad smile, and Lan Wangji looked content. He shoved the sketch into his robes and ran towards the dorm.
“What is this?” Wei Wuxian demanded as he slammed the door open. It was only pure luck that he didn’t run into someone who would punish him for running.
“Wei-xiong?”
“What is this, Nie Huaisang? Why have you been sending letters to my intended?” He waved the paper in the other’s face.
Nie Huaisang squawked, “Lan-xiong showed you that?” He grabbed the paper, eyes wide with surprise and suspicion. “I thought it would be our secret!”
“Explain!”
Nie Huaisang blanched at the look on the other’s face. “Look, it’s no big deal. I got- well, I did something quite big, and Lan-xiong was the one who caught me. He was about to give me the punishment of a lifetime, until he saw a sketch I did of us playing on the river! And, well…”
“And what?” Wei Wuxian pushed.
“Well, he forgot… about my punishment. He stared at the drawing for a long time, and I managed to sneak away and,” Nie Huaisang fanned himself dramatically. “Any time he was about to remember my mistake, I sort of just showed him a sketch of you, and he’d forget again. He’d stare at the sketches for a long time, and it just became a thing. He was really persistent, you know; he kept trying to punish me, so I just started sending sketches of you and him and he just… stopped.”
Wei Wuxian felt lost. That’s it?
“Anyway, how did you find out about it, Wei-xiong? I thought Lan Wangji would take the secret of me bribing him to the grave.”
“Bribe- that,” Wei Wuxian shook his head. “I asked Lan Wangji who was writing to him, and he just said your name and left.”
“I didn’t expect him to give that up so easily,” Nie Huaisang narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Did something happen?”
Wei Wuxian winced, “I was- I maybe accused him of… maybe getting letters from someone he liked?”
“Wei-xiong!” Nie Huaisang gasped, his fan fluttering in his face in panic. “Did you accuse Lan Wangji of cheating?”
“What? No!” Wei Wuxian sputtered. “I was just- I was curious and just asked him if maybe he liked someone else since our future marriage was political- ow!”
Nie Huaisang hit him with his fan. “Why would you say that? I thought the two of you were happy with your engagement!”
“We are! I just wanted to know who-”
“Not that! Why would you call it purely political?”
Wei Wuxian blinked in confusion, “Because it is?”
Nie Huaisang gaped at him. “Are you- are you serious?”
“What? It is!” Wei Wuxian argued uncertainly. He felt a flicker of doubt in him. “Isn’t it?”
“Not on Lan Wangji’s side, it’s not!” Nie Huaisang replied, looking like he was done with his friend’s obliviousness. “Wei-xiong, I don’t know how else to spell this out to you… Your intended is a rule-abiding, disciplinarian who doesn’t let anyone get away with anything.”
“Yes…” Wei Wuxian answered slowly because Nie Huaisang looked like he was about to pull out his hair in frustration.
“You think you’ve been sneakily breaking so many rules, which is why you haven’t been punished as much as the rest of us, but I saw Wangji-xiong watch you jump over the wall with a bottle of Emperor’s Smile on your birthday and turn around and just walk away.”
“What? He did what?”
“And! He let me get away with so many things too, just because I bribed him with drawings of you! You and him!”
“That’s not-”
“Look, you can be as oblivious as you want to your feelings, but do not remain oblivious to how Lan-xiong feels about you. You’ll just end up hurting him even more! Sure, maybe at the start, this was nothing more than a political arrangement, but even a blind rabbit can see that there are now feelings involved.” Nie Huaisang pointed out, eyes narrowed. “On both sides.”
“I-”
Nie Huaisang doesn’t even pretend to listen to what he has to say next and just pushed Wei Wuxian out of the room.
“Nope, any revelation you have is not for me. Go and find your betrothed and actually talk to him!” Nie Huaisang gives one last almighty push before slamming the door behind his friend. “And make sure to make up with him or else! I’ve drawn about twenty portraits to bribe him with, and I don’t want them to go to waste!”
Wei Wuxian found he had nothing more to say to that and just turned to find Lan Wangji again.
Lan Wangji successfully avoided him for a week. Wei Wuxian was miserable.
“You’ve got a stupid look on your face,” Jiang Wanyin commented as they ate lunch.
“This is all your fault,” Wei Wuxian just said, ignoring him.
“So you’ve said before, but you haven’t specifically told me what it is so I can pat myself on the back for it,” Jiang Wanyin answered back sarcastically.
“It’s your fault that Lan Wangji hates me, and now our engagement will be broken because of you,” Wei Wuxian said, and the devastation in his tone actually had Jiang Wanyin giving him his full attention.
“What? Are you serious?” Jiang Wanyin asked, scowling and nearly dropping his chopsticks. “What did you do?”
For the second time, Wei Wuxian had to explain the entire mess with Lan Wangji, and from Jiang Wanyin’s expression, he could tell how serious this was.
“Well, at least you can get the wife you always wanted.” Jiang Wanyin sighed, giving it up as a lost cause. “After mother beats you up black and blue, of course.”
Wei Wuxian blanched, but not because of the comment about Yu Ziyuan’s punishment. “You think the engagement will actually be broken?”
“Hard to say,” Jiang Wanyin said neutrally, not really caring much. “I mean, from the way you say it, and with how Lan Wangji has avoided you for so long, there’s a good chance it might be.”
Wei Wuxian felt an inexplicable panic at those words.
Seeing the look on his face, Jiang Wanyin tried to comfort him. “Hey, I know it would be a disaster at first; mother probably won’t forgive you for the rest of your life, but at least you won’t have to marry someone you don’t love. You can have that loving wife and kids you’ve always wanted.”
“That’s not-” Wei Wuxian startled. He sees something move at the corner of his eyes and he looked up just in time to see Lan Wangji turn and hurry away.
Did he hear everything? Wei Wuxian’s stomach twisted into knots of panic. He got up, nearly upending the table.
“What-”
“Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan, it’s not-!”
“Wei Wuxian!” Lan Qiren stomped towards their direction, grabbing him by the back of his robes before he could climb the table and go off running towards Lan Wangji. “Noise is forbidden! Talking while eating is forbidden!”
“Lan- xiānsheng-”
“Silence!” Lan Qiren gestured to an outer disciple to drag Wei Wuxian to the library to copy lines.
Wei Wuxian nearly burst into tears in frustration.
Lan Xichen was waiting for Wei Wuxian after he finished his punishment for the evening. It was nearing the time for sleep, but Lan Xichen seemed to be in no hurry as he invited Wei Wuxian for a walk.
“Tell me, young master Wei, why has my brother come to me, asking for your betrothal to be dissolved?” Lan Xichen’s words were neutral, and his expression was serene like a still ocean, deep with many unfathomable things beneath the surface.
Wei Wuxian felt dread encompass his chest, and unbiddenly, he felt tears blur his vision as he shook his head. Lan Xichen seemed surprised by his reaction, reaching into his robes to pull out a handkerchief.
Wei Wuxian took it and said, “I don’t want that at all, young master Lan.”
Lan Xichen watched him surreptitiously try to blow his nose. “Wangji told me you preferred women.”
Wei Wuxian did not answer, not knowing what to say.
“He feared you might have been forced into this betrothal against your will,” Lan Xichen continued. “He wished to set you free from the burden of his feelings.”
Wei Wuxian gasped and said, “He’s not a burden!”
“But you do not return his feelings.”
“That’s not-” Wei Wuxian felt his face burn as he tried to articulate the mess of emotions in his chest. “I just want Lan Zhan and I to be the way we were before. I- I like him. More than I thought I could like a person. Not seeing him these past few days has been difficult. I already imagined my future to be with him and no one else. I never imagined myself having a husband, it’s true, but I don’t want a wife, not if I don’t get to have Lan Zhan at all.”
The two of them fall into contemplative silence. Wei Wuxian’s heart was beating double time, wondering if he had said the wrong things and wishing he wasn’t already too late to fix anything.
“It seems you two need to talk more before making a decision.” Lan Xichen finally spoke, his tone gentle.
“I’ve been trying, but Lan Zhan has been avoiding me.”
“Hm, my younger brother is quite good at not talking about his feelings,” Lan Xichen understood. “It is almost curfew, but this is a special case.”
Lan Xichen handed Wei Wuxian a small token, a pass that allowed him to be out despite the late hour. The disciples on patrol carried these so they wouldn’t be punished for staying out late.
“Here, take this and head straight on this path here. Tell Wangji I sent you. If you let things fester like this between the two of you, it’ll be harder to make up.”
“Thank you,” Wei Wuxian accepted the token gratefully with a bow before turning to head down the path to Lan Wangji’s home.
Lan Xichen watched his future brother-in-law make his way quickly to the jingshi, a gentle smile on his face. He hoped the two of them could work through this together.
Lan Wangji was startled by the sudden knock on his door. He made sure he was wrapped in a respectable three layers of robes before he opened it to see Wei Wuxian standing on the other side, eyes red-rimmed.
Lan Wangji felt his heart lurch at the other’s devastated expression. “Wei Ying-”
“Lan Zhan, I’m sorry,” Wei Wuxian reached forward to hold his intended’s hands. “Your brother sent me to clear things up between us. Please don’t break the engagement. I’m sorry.”
Lan Wangji felt the other’s hand shaking. Worried that he might be cold, he ushered him in and made sure to place a blanket over his shoulders before directing him to the table. Thankfully, he had just brewed a light chrysanthemum tea before bed.
He poured Wei Wuxian a cup, and when he was done, the other reached out to hold his hand again.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji sighed, tired and heartbroken as his betrothed sniffled before he drank the tea. “Please, don’t make this any harder. I don’t want you to be forced into this.”
Wei Wuxian shook his head, putting the cup down. “I’m not being forced! I love spending time with you and thinking of us together in the future too!”
“You prefer women.” Unlike me, Lan Wangji did not say, but Wei Wuxian knew that. His sect had announced his preference to the whole cultivation world and was bombarded with proposals from sons of sect leaders and even a prince from a foreign land.
It had been an embarrassing few months before Wei Wuxian had finally been picked as a suitable partner. The visit to Lotus Pier had been the most aggravating month of his life, but Lan Wangji could not deny the spark of attraction and curiosity he had for the Jiang Head Disciple.
Lan Wangji never realized that Wei Wuxian did not have the same freedom in his choices.
“I prefer you,” Wei Wuxian said seriously. “The most beautiful women can throw themselves at me, but Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji, I would only have eyes for you. I only want to marry you; I swear it.”
This… sounded a lot like a confession.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji decided to take a leap of faith, gripping the other’s hand tightly. He breathed in and said, “This engagement, our betrothal is not politics to me. I… I genuinely like you. I-I love you.”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened before his mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Lan Zhan, oh, Lan Zhan, you’ve made me so happy!” He got up and embraced the stunned Second Jade.
“I have?”
“Mhm, I… I’m so happy you feel that way about me, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian pulled back, looking into those golden eyes staring back at him in astonishment. Lan Wangji’s breath hitched when the other leaned forward until their lips met.
Wei Wuxian tasted like the chrysanthemum tea he just drank, and his lips were slightly chapped from the cold air. Lan Wangji could not help but lean in for more; his heart felt like a delicate, trembling thing, beating against his chest like it would burst out at any moment.
Eventually, they separated, and Wei Wuxian was looking at him with wide eyes and red cheeks. “Wow.”
“Mn,” Lan Wangji echoed dazedly.
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian’s voice was light with happiness as he rubbed their noses in a sweet nuzzle. “I… I can’t imagine kissing anyone else but you. I can’t- I don’t want anyone else but you.” He leaned back, eyes serious and bright under the dimly lit room. “I love you, too.”
Lan Wangji’s breath hitched. His eyes burned at the sincerity of his intended’s words. “Truly, Wei Ying?”
“Yes,” Wei Wuxian kissed one soft cheek. “It took me a while to figure it out. I’m sorry. I kept saying that I preferred women, but none of them has ever made me feel the way you do; I realize that now.”
“Wei Ying…”
“I always wanted to get reactions from you, even when we were younger. And when I first saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful person in existence. Seeing you again, here in Cloud Recesses, made me so happy. I couldn’t take my eyes off you, and I was so jealous of the letters that made you blush that I lost my head and said things that hurt you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” Lan Wangji pressed their foreheads together. “We’re here now.”
Wei Wuxian brought up their intertwined hands and kissed the back of Lan Wangji’s. He leaned forward to steal more kisses, but a firm knock on the door had them jumping apart.
“Wangji,” Lan Xichen’s voice came from the other side, and Wei Wuxian scrambled up in a panic. “I hope you and young master Wei managed to talk it out. I have come to escort him back to his lodgings.”
Lan Wangji took his time to stand and straighten his robes and hair. Wei Wuxian spotted his still pink ears and smiled to himself as Lan Wangji went to greet his brother.
“Brother,” Lan Wangji said in a slightly put-out tone. Lan Xichen smiled back at him, not truly apologetic for the interruption.
“Ah, young master Wei, there you are. Come, let me escort you back, I’m sure young master Jiang has been worried about your absence.”
Doubtful, Jiang Wanyin was probably having the best sleep of his life, not having to listen to a moping Wei Wuxian on the other bed.
“I can…” Lan Wangji stopped when he saw the look his brother shot him.
“Wangji,” Lan Xichen said in a slightly warning tone. “It is improper for the two of you to be alone together when you are not yet married.”
“But Brother, you sent Wei Ying here.”
“To clear up a misunderstanding, nothing more.” Lan Xichen answered easily. “And I was nearby and have now come to escort your betrothed on your behalf.”
Lan Wangji did not look happy about that, and Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but dart to him to give him another peck on the lips.
Lan Wangji’s pale cheeks flushed in surprise, and he admonished the other. His brother was right there! “Wei Ying!”
Lan Xichen respectfully turned his eyes away so the two can say their private goodbyes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian said, kissing Lan Wangji’s hands. His fiancé softened at the sweet gesture before leaning in for one more kiss.
“See you tomorrow, Wei Ying.”
Lan Xichen cleared his throat, and Lan Wangji sighed, letting go of Wei Wuxian, who blew him a parting kiss.
Lan Wangji watched the two make their way down the path until he couldn’t see them anymore. He closed the door, a small smile on his face.
He couldn’t wait for tomorrow and for the future that lay ahead of them.
End.